No fatalities

Oradea Airport Takeoff Accident: Premature Landing Gear Retraction (508)

Oradea, RomaniaTakeoff (climb)

On September 20, 1994, an Antonov AN-26 (registration 508) operated by Romanian Air Force - Fortele Aeriene Române was involved in an aviation accident near Oradea, Romania during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Premature retraction of the undercarriage during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

During a takeoff roll at Oradea Airport, a trainee flight engineer prematurely retracted the landing gear. The aircraft skidded on its belly and was destroyed, though all 11 occupants evacuated safely.

Incident Overview and Location An aircraft accident occurred during the takeoff roll at Oradea Airport. The incident involved a flight engineer who was under training at the time of the event. The specific aircraft type, registration, operator, and date are not provided in the official source material. ## Sequence of Events During the takeoff roll, the trainee flight engineer prematurely retracted the landing gear. As a direct result of this action, the aircraft sank onto its belly. The aircraft then skidded along the runway surface before finally coming to rest. ## Outcome and Damage All 11 occupants on board the aircraft evacuated safely. Despite the successful evacuation of all personnel, the aircraft sustained damage that was classified as beyond repair. ## Official Findings The official investigation identified the probable cause of the accident as the premature retraction of the undercarriage during the takeoff phase.